As a Chinese adoptee in St. Louis, teenage Daiyu often feels
out of place. When an elderly Asian jewelry seller at a
street fair shows her a black jade ring—and tells her that
“black jade” translates to “Daiyu”—she buys it as a talisman
of her heritage. But it’s more than that; it’s magic.

It
takes Daiyu through a gateway into a version of St. Louis
much like 19th century China. Almost immediately she is
recruited as a spy, which means hours of training in manners
and niceties and sleight of hand. It also means stealing
time to be with handsome Kalen, who is in on the plan.

There’s only one problem. Once her task is done, she must go
back to St. Louis and leave him behind forever. . . .